Beltway Area Indymedia

Friends,

The USSF is upon us! As a gathering of about 10,000 activists from all over the US and abroad, with an exciting array of workshops and activities on every issue under the sun, the Forum represents one of the most exciting events in North America in years, and a great opportunity to build and escalate our movements. It's also a great opportunity for MGJ to connect with organizations and activists from everywhere.

MGJ and allies are meeting this Wednesday to finalize our workshop for the US Social Forum. For a full text of what we proposed, please see below.

In this meeting, we will flesh out the structure of the workshop, as well as talk about outreach for the October mobilization at the USSF and some USSF logistics.

When: Wednesday 6/20, 7 pm.
Where: 50 Years is Enough office, 3628 12th St. NE, near Brookland metro.

Fore more info:
www.globalizethis.org mgj@riseup.net 202-898-5953

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Text for “Session Description” Section of USSF Proposal Form:
Proposals by Mobilization for Global Justice

Mobilizing for the October Meetings of the IMF and World Bank – Part 1: Why Mobilize? Why Us? Why Now?
(Total duration: 2 hours.)

This workshop will consist of a presentation by members of MGJ, followed by a facilitated open discussion (using large group brainstorm as well as small group discussion). The goal is to develop a shared analysis of why it is relevant and timely to mobilize against the October meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank in Washington, DC. The following questions will be considered, both in the presentation and in the discussion:
• In what ways are our movements stronger than ever in the Global South, and gaining in strength in the U.S.? Evidence of the resurgence of our movements will be discussed to develop an understanding of the openings we have today to escalate our struggles. The evidence includes:
o The current weakness of the IMF and World Bank, and the collapse of the WTO talks;
o The growing militancy of social movements in the Global South (especially but not only in Latin America);
o The growing assertiveness of the immigrants’ rights struggle in the U.S.
o Immigrant communities in the U.S. openly resisting the neoliberal attack on their home countries, such as Central Americans against CAFTA, Korean-Americans against the Korea-US FTA, and Congolese against World Bank-funded mining in Congo.
o Successful struggles by marginalized workers, such as the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.
• In what ways are our struggles strengthened by addressing the global context in which they operate? While we have openings, we also face serious threats in our domestic struggles. We will discuss why these threats cannot be addressed adequately without building a truly internationalist movement. The dangers include:
o The dangers of polarization along the fault lines of immigration and outsourcing of jobs, which cannot be resisted effectively without placing the exploitation of immigrant workers in the U.S in the global context of the renewed assault on labor by global capitalism.
o More broadly, the futility of attempting to resist the onslaught of global capitalism solely at the local or national level.
• What does the rest of the world expect of us? As the USSF proclaims, for another world to be possible, another U.S. is necessary. Since September 11, many movements in the U.S. have become inwardly directed and often unable or unwilling to make the link to global capitalism. However, movements to challenge neoliberalism and U.S. empire at home are key to opening more political space in the Global South. We will discuss why a U.S. response to the call from the World Social Forum in Nairobi for International Days of Action against the IMF and World Bank in October is a great (and essential) place to start rebuilding a truly internationalist movement in the U.S.
• Relationship to USSF Crosscutting Themes. The relationships to the themes of “Corporate globalization, neoliberalism, and imperialism” and “Internationalist perspectives” are obvious.

Mobilizing for the October Meetings of the IMF and World Bank – Part 2: Now That We’ll Mobilize – What Should We Do?
(Total duration: 4 hours.)
Facilitated strategy meeting and skillshare in which various options for action are evaluated and placed within the overall context of the mobilization, and the beginnings of a coordinated national mobilization strategy are sketched out. The workshop will consist of the following stages:
• Discussion of goals and intended targets/audience for the entire mobilization, and the way in which particular types of action (such as popular education, direct action, creative action, and marches/demonstrations) fit into the bigger picture of the mobilization.
• Small group discussion of local mobilization strategies in the various places that participants come from. The small groups will share the summarized results of their discussion with the entire workshop. Discussion in each group will include:
o What constituencies would we like to involve in building the various actions, and how do we form alliances with these constituencies?
o Build-up activities in local communities, such as popular education events, small actions, planning meetings, skill trainings, and hosting a national organizing tour.
• Direct action skill training with scenarios and role plays. Will include basics of affinity group formation and decision-making.
• Reconvene to plan next steps, such as setting up a listserve, scheduling regular conference calls, planning regional consultas, formulating a national outreach plan, etc.
Relationship to USSF Crosscutting Themes. The relationships to the themes of “Corporate globalization, neoliberalism, and imperialism” and “Internationalist perspectives” are obvious.